The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation(SSSF) recently donated $98,500 to Team Endowment Accounts at the MidwayUSA Foundation to complete all 2016 donations. Last year the SSSF donated over $1.4 million to benefit 244 teams participating in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) across 35 different states. The SSSF plans to donate over $1.5 million in 2017 to participating SCTP and SASP Team Endowment accounts at the MidwayUSA Foundation. The SSSF provides SCTP and SASP member-teams the opportunity to earn MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Account funds through placements in SSSF-sponsored competitions and by participating in SCTP and SASP fundraising activities benefiting local shooting sports communities. Please contact the SSSF for more information on how your shooting team can participate in 2017.The donations from SSSF to MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Accounts established to benefit SCTP and SASP member-teams are made possible, in part, by grants to the SSSF from the Tulsa Community Foundation Youth Shooting Fund established and funded by the generosity of Larry and Brenda Potterfield.The Team Endowment Account Program at the MidwayUSA Foundation gives a community the ability to financially support a competitive youth shooting sports program or financially assist in the start-up of a new youth shooting sports program. The team can then request a grant of up to 5% of their endowment account balance once each year, in either December or June, to pay for team expenses. There are no fees associated with a MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Account.About MidwayUSA FoundationThe MidwayUSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to sustain the shooting sports industry by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams. Every donation made is 100% tax deductible and supports the mission to help communities and organizations raise funds to support their youth shooting team.For more information about the MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc., please visit www.midwayusafoundation.org or call 1-877-375-4570.
All year the MidwayUSA Foundation will match donations, 2:1! The match for donations generated using the MidwayUSA Foundation's FREE fundraising items is structured slightly different. All funds will be matched, but the size of the match is determined by the contribution made to a MidwayUSA Foundation Endowment. After you've received your free item(s) and conducted your fundraiser, please complete the check donation form that corresponds with the item(s) to donate funds to your endowment. If this donation meets or exceeds the recommended donation for that item, you'll receive a 2:1 match! Contribute less than the recommended donation and still receive a 1:1 match! The recommended donation amounts are listed with each item on our fundraising page. The MidwayUSA Foundation wants to reward teams for growing their endowment, but the foundation also knows teams have expenses, today. Choose what works best for your team or program. Many items are available to use for fundraising and more are coming. Check out the fundraising page to see what your shooting program can use. For more on the Fundraising Matching Program, download this flyer or email fundraise@midwayusafoundation.org.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is excited to release its 2016 year in review digital newsletter, Inside SSSF! Inside you'll find stories and exciting images highlighting SCTP, SASP and SSSF events, programs and happenings in 2016. You'll read about the Vision 20/20 Campaign, get a recap on the 2016 Nationals and SCTP International Championships, learn about the 2016 scholarship and gun winners, find out 2016 program stats and much, much more! "We want to thank everyone who participated in and generously contributed to our programs this year," SSSF President and Executive Director Ben Berka, said. "We wish you all a happy and prosperous 2017!!" Read the 2016 edition of Inside SSSF online now.
Tennessee might have the largest number of shotgun shooters here at the SCTP Nationals, but over on the pistol and rifle ranges, where they’re competing in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program Nationals, it’s a different story. The Badger State overtook Tennessee as the top state in terms of shooter participation, edging out their rivals from the south with 19.8% of the shooters hailing from Wisconsin compared to 19.5% coming from Tennessee. It might be a narrow margin of victory but a win is a win.
Participation by women - in this case perhaps girls - here in at the SCTP and SASP National Championships is, well, high. Girls account for nearly 1 in every 5 shooters with 19.3% of the total. By sport the numbers are more interesting. In the shotgun sports of SCTP the girls make up 17.7% of the shooters. But when it comes to the pistol and rifle sports of SASP, girls are now 30.7% of the total shooters. One of those girls helping to drive up participation is 11-year-old Taylor Diener of the Union Grove Shooting Club in Wisconsin. Taylor started shooting trap two years ago and just this past March made the leap into rimfire rifle competition in preparation for this year’s SASP Nationals. On the range she’s hard to miss, unless of course she’s surrounded by a cluster of adults who all tower over her. Cute and confident she seems totally unfazed by either the flood of attention given to young new shooters like her or the pressure of competing at the national level. Even when her rifle magazine has a feeding issue, a world ending disaster in the minds of many competitive shooters racing the timer, Taylor calmly keeps working the action and pulling the trigger. A lot of the young shooters, and several of the young girls shooting, demonstrate this same poise under pressure. And after, rather than voice any frustration or disappointment, Taylor focuses on the future, as in next year when she plans to add doubles trap, maybe sporting clays and even rimfire pistol to her shooting schedule. No wonder participation by girls - and of course women - continues to grow in the shooting sports.
Nineteen coaches earned their NRA coaching credentials during the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) Level 1 Coaches Class hosted by the Daniel Boone Conservation League in Wisconsin on February 6-7, 2016. The Shooting Coach Program is a cooperative effort of the NRA, USA Shooting, and the Civilian Marksmanship Program. The NRA Level 1 Pistol Coaches Class now includes action shooting as one of the disciplines. The Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) is the model for action shooting. The additional coaches were needed to address the huge growth several of the Wisconsin teams have experienced since last year. One team actually has grown from 15 last year to 50 this year and that growth was seen even before the new rifle program was announced. Congratulations new coaches and good luck on a successful season with your athletes. The next pistol coaches’ class on the schedule is in Plymouth, Michigan, April 2 & 3, 2016. Are you looking to host a coaches’ class in your area? Contact SASP Director of Development Rick Leach at rleach@sssfonline.com.
Coaches who are registering at sssfonline.org are reminded that their paperwork is not done until all steps have been completed. This includes submitting the required background check every two years and completing the one-time Double-Goal Coaching Course for new coaches. Until these steps have been completed, a coach is not considered registered and is not covered under SSSF‘s liability insurance. For a complete “how to” list for team registration, go to:https://sssfonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Registering-a-new-team-instructions.pdf
Amanda Wondrash The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is pleased to announce, effective immediately, all Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) administrative duties will be assumed by Amanda Wondrash and April Carr. Wondrash and Carr are familiar faces with the SSSF and have been serving the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) in an administrative role since 2013.April Carr and family “With the changes that have taken place in SPP, we are looking forward to having Amanda and April join the SPP team and assisting us with the administrative duties," Tammy Mowry, SPP National Program director, said. "With their knowledge of the SCTP and SPP as well as the SHOT system, we know they are a tremendous addition and the coaches are in more than capable and friendly hands." Coaches needing assistance with tasks, such as registering their teams, completing paperwork, and navigating the SHOT system may contact Wondrash and Carr for help. All SPP team, coach and athlete registration paperwork previously sent to the SPP office in Pennsylvania must now be directed to the SCTP/SPP Administrative Office in Burlington, WI. 165 Bay Ridge Lane Burlington, WI 53105 Amanda Wondrash, Administrative Coordinator Phone: 262-206-4634 Email: awondrash@sssfonline.com April Carr, Administrative Assistant Phone: 262-716-9452 Email: acarr@sssfonline.com
If the holiday season is bringing out your generous side, then please consider one of two ways to support the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) this season. #GivingTuesday The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) has joined many other nonprofit organizations in the fundraising campaign #GivingTuesday. #GivingTuesday is held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to jump start the holiday season and as a way to encourage people to give back to their communities and to the organizations and causes they believe in. “This is the first year the SSSF has participated in #GivingTuesday,” Ben Berka, SSSF president and executive director, said. “We encourage those of you who want to show support for our youth shooting sports programs to donate to the SCTP and the SPP on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. Your donations help fund our programs, which enhance the growth and personal development of student athletes throughout the nation.” Those interested in donating to the SSSF may go to https://sssfonline.org/donate/ to view giving options and make a secure, online donation. The SSSF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Contributions are tax-deductible. AmazonSmile With the holiday shopping season upon us, many of you will no doubt be shopping on Amazon.com, the website where you can buy everything from books and music, to electronics, to automobile tires. Without spending another cent, you can support the SCTP and SPP with your Amazon purchases. When you log onto Amazon through a special link, smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase price to the SSSF -- at no extra cost to you. Use this special link to shop and support the SSSF!
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to providing shooting-sports education and opportunities to school-age youths around the United States to encourage young athlete personal growth and development. Tax-ID number 20-8484121.
Register now to attend the Conservation Career Fair and Shooting Sports Clinic taking place at Pheasant Fest on February 18th from 9:00AM to Noon at the Minneapolis Convention Center. All registered coaches and youth will be receive free admission to Pheasant Fest. Pre-registration by February 1st is required! Register now! This year's keynote speaker will be professional shooter Steve Gould of Long Prarie, MN. Steve will inspire you to be intentional about your future by creating a vision, getting focused and pulling the trigger! Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) national staff members are also included in the lineup of presentations and SCTP will also have a booth at Pheasant Fest for folks to drop by. Attend our presentation and/or stop by the booth to learn more about the SCTP in 2017, new competition and fundraising opportunities plus MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment opportunities through the SCTP. As a bonus, Pheasants Forever will be providing a $1,000 donation to your MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment account when you sign up for a MidwayUSA Foundation fundraising item at the show! Pre-registration by February 1st is required! Register now!
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All year the MidwayUSA Foundation will match donations, 2:1! The match for donations generated using the MidwayUSA Foundation's FREE fundraising items is structured slightly different. All funds will be matched, but the size of the match is determined by the contribution made to a MidwayUSA Foundation Endowment. 
Participation by women - in this case perhaps girls - here in at the SCTP and SASP National Championships is, well, high. Girls account for nearly 1 in every 5 shooters with 19.3% of the total. By sport the numbers are more interesting. In the shotgun sports of SCTP the girls make up 17.7% of the shooters. But when it comes to the pistol and rifle sports of SASP, girls are now 30.7% of the total shooters. 
One of those girls helping to drive up participation is 11-year-old Taylor Diener of the Union Grove Shooting Club in Wisconsin. Taylor started shooting trap two years ago and just this past March made the leap into rimfire rifle competition in preparation for this year’s SASP Nationals. On the range she’s hard to miss, unless of course she’s surrounded by a cluster of adults who all tower over her. Cute and confident she seems totally unfazed by either the flood of attention given to young new shooters like her or the pressure of competing at the national level. Even when her rifle magazine has a feeding issue, a world ending disaster in the minds of many competitive shooters racing the timer, Taylor calmly keeps working the action and pulling the trigger. A lot of the young shooters, and several of the young girls shooting, demonstrate this same poise under pressure. And after, rather than voice any frustration or disappointment, Taylor focuses on the future, as in next year when she plans to add doubles trap, maybe sporting clays and even rimfire pistol to her shooting schedule. No wonder participation by girls - and of course women - continues to grow in the shooting sports.
coaches earned their NRA coaching credentials during the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) Level 1 Coaches Class hosted by the Daniel Boone Conservation League in Wisconsin on February 6-7, 2016. The Shooting Coach Program is a cooperative effort of the NRA, USA Shooting, and the Civilian Marksmanship Program. The NRA Level 1 Pistol Coaches Class now includes action shooting as one of the disciplines. The Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) is the model for action shooting. The additional c
oaches were needed to address the huge growth several of the Wisconsin teams have experienced since last year. One team actually has grown from 15 last year to 50 this year and that growth was seen even before the new rifle program was announced. Congratulations new coaches and good luck on a successful season with your athletes. The next pistol coaches’ class on the schedule is in Plymouth, Michigan, April 2 & 3, 2016. Are you looking to host a coaches’ class in your area? Contact SASP Director of Development Rick Leach at 
